Financial and Corporate Crime

This Practice note provides an overview of the money laundering regime that applies to lawyers pursuant to the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 (2007 Regulations). The 2007 Regulations came into force on 15 December 2007 and replace the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 (2003 Regulations). They bring the 2005 Directive on money laundering into effect in the UK. The 2007 Regulations introduce new requirements and vary requirements that were in the 2003 Regulations. In particular, the 2007 Regulations require that: The lawyer is able to identify the beneficial owner of client trusts, companies and partnerships. The lawyer applies customer due diligence measures and monitors client activities according to a risk-based approach, applying less stringent procedures for low risk situations and more stringent procedures in higher risk situations. Training for staff is both regular and covers terrorist financing issues. Lawyers are also to have regard to the Law Society's anti-money laundering practice note published on 6 October 2011, and the Solicitors Regulation Authority's warning cards on money laundering (April 2009), property fraud (April 2009) and bogus law firms and identity theft (March 2012).   Property lawyers should also take account of the joint Land Registry and Law Society practice note on property and registration fraud (September 2010), and the Law Society's note on mortgage fraud (October 2011).

A practice note about the Bribery Act 2010, which received Royal Assent in April 2010 and came into force on 1 July 2011.  The background to the Act is described in Practice note, Bribery: law reform. PLC's materials on the Bribery Act are set out in Bribery Act 2010: toolkit.

This note explains what principles the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) must apply when making decisions about how to deal with cases of suspected criminal activity. In particular, the note examines the various guidelines the SFO must apply, particularly with regard to the Bribery Act 2010.

This note explains the purpose of a statement of ethics (or anti-corruption statement) and how it might best be used in the context of the Bribery Act 2010, particularly in relation to implementing adequate procedures to prevent bribery and demonstrating a top level commitment to doing so. This note accompanies Standard document, Bribery Act 2010: sample statement of ethics.

A practice note about the reform of the law on bribery in the UK.  This note has now been replaced by a new resource: Practice note, Bribery Act 2010, detailing the Bribery Bill which was introduced into parliament in November 2009 and received Royal Assent as the Bribery Act 2010 in April 2010.

The civil wrong of bribery is concerned with payments made to agents without their principals' knowledge or consent. This note considers the elements of the cause of action of bribery, the implications of a payment being classified as a bribe, the relationship with fiduciary duties, defences and remedies. It also considers the situation where it is the agent who is doing the bribing. It is part of a series of practice notes examining different aspects of commercial fraud.

A tracker outlining the progress of the Crime and Courts Bill 2012-13 (now the Crime and Courts Act 2013).

In this practice note, Jane Tuckley, partner, and Nigel Barratt, Director of Research, from Travers Smith LLP's Financial Services and Markets department, provide an overview of the FCA's criminal prosecution powers. This practice note is part of a series of Travers Smith LLP practice notes on the FCA's disciplinary and enforcement powers. For more information, see Practice note, FCA disciplinary and enforcement powers: a guide to content written by Travers Smith LLP.

In this practice note, Jon Holland, partner, and Catherine Robert, associate, of Hogan Lovells, examine the financial sanctions legislation in the UK, which is implemented and administered by HM Treasury, and provide guidance on practical steps that can be taken to ensure compliance.